Bird of the month 07/2006 Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) 18 cm. Small, blue and red bird. Bill is very long and strong, females have a reddish bill-base. Forehead, crown, hindneck, and moustache is blue, earcoverts are reddish and white. Back, tail and wings are also blue, underbody is red. It has short, red legs. Throat is white. In flight it has a very fast wing-beat. Its call is sharp „ziii” or „zitiii”, which can be heard mainly in flight. Habitat Rather common breeder in Hungary, it breeds around lakes, rivers and rivulets, where many small fishes are. Its nesting hole is about 1 m long, where it builds its nest by fishbones. | 
© Photo by Bence Kókay |